VOLUME: 2 ISSUE: 1 - USEmbassy.gov

VOLUME: 2ISSUE: 1D AT E : AP R I L 2 0 1 2In This Issue1 Message from the Chief of ACS1 Appointments and Services2 Consulate news2 Seeking Wardens3 Youth Section – Earth Day4 Youth Activities5 2012 U.S. ElectionsFrom American Citizen Services Chief Leon GendinWe are pleased to announce the renewal ofmonthly visits to Bangalore for passport and otherservices. We know demand is great. Please registerwith STEP to ensure you receive regular updatesabout our upcoming dates in Bangalore. Learnmore about Bangalore outreach at:Bangalore Outreach and Virtual Bangalore site.Appointments and ServicesTo make an appointmentpassport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad,AppointmentsandforServicesand document and notarial services, please visit our website:Appointments and Serviceschennai.usconsulate.govFind out more about us:Consulate WebsiteFacebook PageTwitterYouTubeFlickrIf you arrive at the consulate for a non-emergency service, you will beasked to return after securing an appointment. Thank you for yourcooperation with this policy.American Citizen Service Hours:Monday through Friday, excluding holidays9:00am to 12:30pm (appointments)Emergency Services:Reach us:EmailCall: ( 91-44) 2857-4000We can assist when a U.S. citizen in India is arrested, missing, is a victimof violent crime, becomes ill or dies, or when there is otherwise a needfor immediate help. 24-hour duty officer for emergencies involving American citizens:call ( 91-44) 2857-4000 Updates about crisis situations Information on local resources Contacting family members in the United StatesGeneral information regarding Indian visa and immigration rules, including the addresses and telephonenumbers for the FRRO offices, can be found at the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs website for its Bureauof Immigration at http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in.US Consulate, Chennai; 220 Anna Salai; Chennai 600 006; India Tel: [91](44)2857-4000http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

2Consulate NewsAppointments can be made to:-Add visa pages to undamaged, valid U.S. passport-Passport services other than adding pages-Report the birth abroad of a child of a U.S. citizenand/or apply for the child's first passport, Report ofBirth and Social Security Number-Request notarial and other services not listed aboveWe Need Your Help -- Volunteer as a Warden!The warden program is a system for maintainingcommunications with the American community anddisseminating information to it in times of increased threator actual emergency. If you live in Chennai’s consular districtand want to help, please email us at chennaics@state.gov.Districts where we especially need wardens:KERALAVisas for Indian CitizensIf you need a visa to travel to the United States, please visitthe consulate website for application, fee and appointmentinformation. Please note: some categories of visaapplication and processing fees are increasing effectiveApril 13. For example, a tourist visa application fee will risefrom 140 to 160.Smart Traveler Enrollment ProgramKeep us updated on your whereabouts in India. STEP willensure we can reach you in the event of an emergency andwhen we have news to share – such as the next time we willbe in Bangalore. It’s free. Please visit and enroll with youremail address at travel.state.govOther Consular ServicesMedical Information: Find key information about medicalcare in India, and the Consulate’s doctors' list. MoreInformationMarriage: Procedures for American Citizens getting marriedin India. More InformationNotary and Document Services: Many documents requireauthentication or acknowledgment. Appointments arerequired. More InformationSocial Security: Help for those collecting Social Securityfrom outside the U.S. More InformationJudicial Assistance: Key information about how theConsulate can and cannot help citizens. Also, a list ofattorneys. More InformationVoter Registration: How to vote from outside the UnitedStates. More InformationSelective Service: If you’re a male over 18, Uncle Sam needsyou to register for the draft. More InformationIRS: Help with filing income tax overseas. More RNATAKABenson TownChamrajpetChandralayoutMalleswaramMuseum RoadAnand NagarNandhinilayoutElectronic CityHSR layoutBangalore RuralDavanagereGulbargaHassanKolarPONDICHERRYTAMIL NADU ur(Outside eliTirupurTiruvannamalaiTrichyVelloreVillupuramUS Consulate, Chennai; 220 Anna Salai; Chennai 600 006; India Tel: [91](44)2857-4000http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

3Earth Day is April 22Are youJohn Carter – American hero?Earth Day was established on April 22, 1970 as thebeginning of the modern environmental movement. Itcame at a time when Americans were pumping fullyleaded gasoline into their cars, air pollution was rampant,and industries were not governed by strict regulations.The day was founded by then-U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelsonof the state of Wisconsin, after a massive oil spill inCalifornia. Nelson was inspired by the energy of students’anti-Vietnam War protests and thought that kind ofenthusiasm could be channeled toward environmentalThe new Disney movie “John Carter” is based on theissues.classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess ofMars. Burroughs was known for writing the Tarzanseries. A Princess of Mars was his first novel to featurehero, John Carter. It first appeared in 1912 as a series ofmonthly installments in a magazine called The All StoryEarth Day is celebrated every year with tree plantings, under the title Under the Moons of Mars. The storiesrecycling programs, rallies and other activities.were later collected in a book. Carter is a former CivilWar Confederate Amy captain mysteriously transportedto Mars!Nelson organized a “national teach-in” on theenvironment and on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americansparticipated in rallies across the United States in the nameof a healthy, safe environment.A Princess of Mars is the featured book on the Library ofCongress website: http://www.read.gov/kids/Tamil actor and UN Habitat Youth Envoy Vikram and U.S.Consulate celebrate Earth Day 2011Check out the Library of Congress website forrecommendations on children’s books on topics rangingfrom U.S. Presidents to Sports to American Inventors toNational Parks and maps. And look for online games inthe Storybook Adventure section.Commit to five acts to preserve the environment eachday. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’sEarth Day page for ideas: epa.gov/earthdayUS Consulate, Chennai; 220 Anna Salai; Chennai 600 006; India Tel: [91](44)2857-4000http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

4Historical Documents Declaration ofIndependenceWHEN in the Course ofhuman Events, it becomesnecessary for one People to dissolvethe Political Bands which haveconnected them with another, and toassume among the Powers of theEarth, the separate and equal Stationto which the Laws of Nature and ofNature's God entitle them, a decentRespect to the Opinions of Mankindrequires that they should declare thecauses which impel them to theSeparation.WE hold these Truths to be selfevident, that all Men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creatorwith certain unalienable Rights, thatamong these are Life, Liberty and thePursuit of Happiness -- That to securethese Rights, Governments areinstituted among Men, deriving theirjust Powers from the Consent of theGoverned, that whenever any Form ofGovernment becomes destructive ofthese Ends, it is the Right of the Peopleto alter or to abolish it, and to institutenew Government, laying its Foundationon such Principles, and organizing itsPowers in such Form, as to them shallseem most likely to effect their Safetyand Happiness. Read more WORD SEARCHCan you find the signers of Declaration USHSMITHADAMSWILLIAMSELLERYPAINECLARK and Great Speeches .To read more historic U.S. documents and speeches, such as theU.S. Constitution visit the Primary Documents in AmericanHistory section of the Library of Congress’ website here.US Consulate, Chennai; 220 Anna Salai; Chennai 600 006; India Tel: [91](44)2857-4000http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

5NEWSLETTER2012 U.S. elections2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONImportant Dates:FROM THE CONSUL GENERALAmerican author Louis L’Amour once said, “Tomake democracy work, we must be a nation ofparticipants, not simply observers.” As 2012 is aU.S. presidential election year, there is no bettertime than now to follow that advice. Exercisingthe right to vote is one of our most fundamentalideals. Accordingly, I would like to encourage allAmericans – no matter where they call home – toparticipate in this year’s elections. We, here atthe U.S. Consulate Chennai, are ready to assistany American who is traveling or residing insouth India in registering to vote and requestingan absentee ballot. As a first step, I encourageyou to visit either the Federal Voting AssistanceProgram’s website (www.fvap.gov) or the U.S.Consulate Chennai’s website(http://chennai.usconsulate.gov). I am happy toreport that voting absentee is easier than ever –with laws now in force in nearly every U.S. statethat simplify the process of receiving and castingballots as well as ensuring that they are counted.This is your chance to put democracy to work, soplease register to vote right away.QUESTIONS?Aug 27-30Sep 3-5Oct 3Oct 11Oct 16Oct 22Nov 6Jan 20, 2013Republican Convention in Tampa, FLDemocratic Convention in Charlotte, NCPresidential Debate in Denver, COVice Presidential Debate in Danville, KYPresidential Debate in Hempstead, NYPresidential Debate in Boca Raton, FLElection DayInauguration DayREGISTERING TO VOTEIf you are a U.S. citizen 18 years or older andcurrently residing outside the U.S., you may:REGISTER TO VOTE and/or REQUEST ANABSENTEE BALLOTSteps You Can Take Today: Obtain a Federal Post Card Application(FPCA) from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate– including U.S. Consulate Chennai – orrequest directly from the Federal VotingAssistance Program (www.fvap.gov). Complete the FPCA, sign, date andsubmit it to your local election official.You can do this by mailing it from anyU.S. post office, U.S. embassy orconsulate. Note that your local election official willhandle the processing and distribution ofyour absentee ballot. Make sure toprovide a current email address andphone number on the FPCA in case theyneed to contact you.Contact us atvotechennai@state.govUS Consulate, Chennai; 220 Anna Salai; Chennai 600 006; India Tel: [91](44)2857-4000http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

This Issue 1 Message from the Chief of ACS 1 Appointments and Services 2 Consulate news 2 Seeking Wardens 3 Youth Section – Earth Day 4 Youth Activities 5 2012 U.S. Elections VOLUME: 2 ISSUE: 1 DATE: APRIL 2012 Find out more about us: Consulate Website Facebook Page Twitter